Interchangeable self-cleaning rake



Jan. 23, 1940. L.J.MRUK 2,187,985

INTERCHANGEABLE SELF-CLEANING RAKE Filed April 11, 1938 I4 IZ IO .QINVENTOR LAUDIE J. MEUK. Fig. 3.

\ Ai'ToR EYs Patented Jan. 23, 1940 I 7 2,187,985 r I INTERCHANGEABLE SELF-CLEANING} BAKE v Laudie J. Mruk, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application April 11, 1938, Serial No. 201,280

1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements :in interchangeableself-cleaning rakes of the type ordinarily used for raking lawns.

The object of my invention is to obtain ine creased efficiency at reduced cost of construction.

More specific objectsare to so connect the handle with the back of the rake as to allow the handle to be used interchangeably for rakes of differing sizes, and utilize certain of the teeth to limit the swinging movement of the rake with reference to the handle, when the teeth are swung into and out of cleaning position.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved rake.

Figure 2 is a sectional-view of the metal parts, drawn to line 2-2 of Figure 1, but showing the spring in full.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional View of the cast metal back, showing paired embedded tooth forming rods.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail showing the handle clamping member as seen from the under side.

Like parts are identified by the same reference character throughout the several views.

My improved rake is formed with a die cast cylindrical back ill, in which teeth ll composed of steel rods are embedded. The teeth are formed in pairs from lengths of rod, bent to form three sides of a rectangle, each pair of teeth being connected by an integral cross bar l2 which,

with a portion I? of each tooth, is embedded in the'cast metal back I0. I preferably indent or flatten the cross bar l2 as shown at M, to obtain increased anchorage in the metal cast about these cross bars. y l

The casting I is also provided with an'ear l6 having an aperture at I! to receive the hookshaped end of a tension spring 18, connected to a reinforcing flange IS in the crotch of the divergent handle arms 20. The handle arms 20, ferrule 2| and flange l9 may all be cast integrally, and the extremities 25 of the arms 20 may be transversely flattened and a portion thereof curved to fit over the back member 10 to be connected therewith by clamping plates 26 now to be- UNITED STATES cured thereto by a suitable fastening such as a bolt or rivet 28.

The arcuate portions of the clamping plates 26 and the counter-part portions of the handle arms form journal boxes in which therake head or back rod I!) may oscillate. The rake teeth which pass through the slots 2| in the clamping plates each cooperate withthe associated-belt 28 to hold the plate in position. Therefore a single clamping bolt for each plate will be sufiicient. s I

The clamping members and 26 may be used toembrace rake back rods 10 of different diameters and lengths. Therefore, by employing. removable bolts 28 and nuts 29the same handle may be interchangeably secured to rakes of different dimensions. The a degree of clamping pressure exerted by the bolts 28 should be suflicient to preventthe rake head from vibrating in its bearings formed by the members 25 and 26 but insufficient to prevent the rake head or back bar Hi from oscillating to the extent permitted by the slots 21. j

' The teeth Hare made slightly arcuate, curving toward the side occupied by the handle. Back pressure onthe handle, with the teeth in contact with the ground, will cause them to fold to the extent permitted by the slots 21, and the teeth will then serve as shoes from which accumulated leaves or grass will be scraped.

By having the rake head [0, the raketeeth H and the handle fork arms 20 all circular in cross section, the opportunity for leaves or grass to be entangled and frictionally held is reduced to a minimum, all surfaces of these parts being smooth and of minimum extent. Therefore, by-

My improved rake head and the metal parts fill of the handle will preferably be made of duralu-' min alloy, but the teeth will preferably be formed from'sections of steel rods bent into a generally U-shaped form-to provide the'portions l2 and ient, smooth-surfaced teeth H projecting from the'casting, as shown.

I claim: 7

In a self cleaning rake, the combination with a cylindrical rake head composed of light cast metal, paired steel teeth having theirupper' ends embedded and connected with each otherwithin the cast metal, with the teeth projecting I3 to be embedded in the head, and the resildle connected journal box member in cooperation with the associated tooth passing through said slot to prevent swinging movement of the slotted journal member upon said bolt, the embedded ends of the teeth and their cross connections being rigidly held by the cast metal against sliding movement of the teeth through the rake head under impacts of the free ends of the teeth againsthard surfaces.

" LAUDIE J. MRUK. 

